Store counter partition and clip therefor

ABSTRACT

A store counter partition for dividing a countertop into a plurality of bins having a pair of tabs extending inwardly in the longitudinal direction on each end of the partition. The tabs are offset from each other vertically and are spaced to preclude lateral movement of the tines of a resilient, removable clip which grips the end of the partition and is provided with a recess at its lower extremity to engage the countertop.

United States Patent Inventor Charles P. lluddleston Tenafly, NJ. Appl.No. 838,098 Filed July 1, 1969 Patented Feb. 2, 1971 Assignee SeltselEquipment Corporation Hackensack, NJ.

a corporation of New Jersey STORE COUNTER PARTITION AND CLIP THEREFOR 9Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 211/184 Int. Cl A471 5/00 FieldofSearch 211/184; 312/140.4;108/61 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McClure 312/1404 2,108,9502/1938 Stober 211/184 2,125,747 8/1938 Zadek 211/184 2,538,908 l/1951McKeehan 21 l/184 3,497,081 2/1970 Field 211/184 3,501,019 3/1970Armstrong et a1 211/184 FOREIGN PATENTS 197,695 3/1920 Canada 312/1404Primary ExaminerMarion Parsons, J r. Att0rneySamuels0n & Jacob ABSTRACT:A store counter partition for dividing a countertop into a plurality ofbins having a pair of tabs extending inwardly in the longitudinaldirection on each end of the partition. The tabs are offset from eachother vertically and are spaced to preclude lateral movement of thetines of a resilient, removable clip which grips the end of thepartition and is provided with a recess at its lower extremity to engagethe countertop.

r Anu tnlrm-mm sum 2 or 2 INVENTOF? CHARLES P HUDDLESTON STORE COUNTERPARTITION AND CLIP THEREFOR The invention is directcdtoward providing aremovable partition and clip therefor. In particular. the invention isdirected toward a novel clip construction wherein the clips may bereadily affixed to and removed from the partition and wherein slottedelements may be attached to the clips to support a rim or divider. Theslotted elements may be shaped for runthrough or tight or leftterminations.

In most prior art partitions, it is not readily possible to attach theclips to and remove them from the longitudinal partition element. Theclips are generally permanently affixed to the base or to thelongitudinal element so that in one case, the bin sizes are fixed by thelocation of the clips and, in the other case, it is necessary to keepextra longitudinal elements on hand if one wishes to change the binsizes and/or configurations.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a longitudinalpartition element for a countertop which is easy to install and remove.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a clip for thelongitudinal element which is formed of resilient material and which maybe easily attached to and removed from the longitudinal partitionelement.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a clipwith various slotted elements so that the clip may also be used tosupport walls or rims. These slotted elements may be of the runthroughtype or end terminations.

These and other objects, features, advantages and uses will be apparentduring the course of the following description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

Broadly, the invention is directed toward a partition which is held inplace on a flat base by a pair of clips, one at each end of thepartition. The clips are formed of a resilient material and are of agenerally inverted U shape. The clips may be readily removed from thepartition so that clips having specialized slotted elements may besubstituted for each other and for clips without slotted elements. Allof the clips of the invention are provided with a recess to engage theedge of the flat base (countertop). The clips have a pair of tinesforming one leg of the U. The tines cooperate to engage the partitionand hold the clip in place on the partition. Since the recess engagesthe edge of the flat base, the partitions may be placed anywhere on thebase without using any screws or other elements which may mar thesurface or edge of the base.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this appliv cation, andin which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a countertop showing the partitions andclips of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a partition of the inventionbeing installed on the flat base;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, viewed in the direction of arrow 3 ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are views showing stages in the installation of a clipof the invention on the end of a partition; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view, viewed in the direction of arrow 7 of FIG.6.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 designates acounter which utilizes partitions and clips of the invention. Counter 10comprises flat upper base 12, the countertop, and longitudinalpartitions 14 which are affixed to flat base 12 by means of clips I6,18, 20 or 22 and wall or rim l5.

Clip I6 is formed of resilient material such as thin steel and isgenerally shaped like an inverted U. One leg of the U is made up of apair of tines 24 and the other leg of the U is a substantially flatsurface 25. A recess 26 is provided at the end of leg 25 to engage theedge of flat base I2. Clips 18, 20 and 22 are similar to clip l6'exceptthat each of them is provided with a slotted element to hold wall 15 inposition. As seen in FIG. I, slotted element 19 of clip 18 is a left endtermination,

slotted element 21 of clip 20 is a runthrough guide and slotted element23 of clip 22 is a right end termination.

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the method of installing a partition14 on flat upper base I2. First, one clip is affixed to the base byengaging the edge of the base in recess 26, as shown in the left side ofthe FIG. Then, the other end of partition 14 is moved toward base I2 inthe direction of the arrow at the right of the FIG. until the edge ofbase 12 is engaged in recess 26 of the right clip 16. A clip 18, 20 or22 may be substituted for either or both of the clips I6.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the method which a clip 16 is installed onthe end of a partition 14. The tines 24 are slipped over upstanding rib35 so that the rib fits in the opening between the tines. Clip 16 isthen pushed down so that tines 24 are between tabs 32 and the bentportions 28 are below the bottom of the chamfered edge 36. The tines 24are precluded from lateral motion by tabs 32 and from vertical motion bythe interaction of bent portions 28 and chamfer edge 36 as well as thefit of the curved portions 27 and 34. Leg 25 of clip 16 fits againstlateral portion 30'of partition 14. Once the clips on both ends of thepartition are in position, the partition may be installed as describedheretofore.

Clips 18, 20 and 22 are installed on partitions 14 in the same manner ashas been described just above.

While the foregoing description and the claims are directed towardutilizing the invention on the flat upper base of a counter (thecountertop), it should be understood that the clips and partitions ofthe invention may be used in conjunction with a flat surface of anymaterial.

Even though particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that modificationsare possible without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:

I. A store counter partition for dividing a counter having a flat upperbase into a plurality of bins comprising:

a longitudinal element whose length is approximately the same as onedimension of the flat base being divided into a plurality of bins;

a flat lateral portion at one end of the longitudinal element adjacentthe lower edge of the longitudinal element;

an upstanding rib above the flat lateral portion;

a pair of tabs affixed to the flat lateral portion projecting inwardlyin the direction of the major portion of the longitudinal element;

a resilient removable clip of a generally inverted U-shape comprising:

a pair of tines formed to fit over the upstanding rib forming one leg ofthe inverted U;

a recess at the other end of the inverted U to engage the edge of theflat base; and

means at the ends of the tines for locking the clip in position on theend of the longitudinal element.

2. The invention of claim I wherein the means for locking the clip inposition comprises a bent portion at the end of each of the tines and anotch in the longitudinal element to receive the bent portions.

3. The invention of claim 1 including a slotted member affixed to theclip above the recess to receive a flat vertical member and hold thesame in position with respect to the longitudinal element and the flatbase.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the slotted member is open at itstop and two of its sides.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the slotted member is open at itstop and one of its sides.

6. A clip for removably engaging the end of a longitudinal partitionelement and a flat base to divide the flat base into a plurality of binscomprising:

a generally U-shaped element of resilient material;

a pair of tines forming one leg of the U;

a recess at the other end of the U for engaging the edge of the flatbase; and

means at the ends of tines for locking the clip in position on thelongitudinal partition.

open at the top end and two of its sides.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein the slotted member is open at itstop and one of its sides.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 559315 Dated Eebrnamz 2 91 Inventor(s) Charles P. Huddleston It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 6, line 8, insert the before "tines" Claim 8, line 2, cancel "end"Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOITSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Pater:

I FORM PC4050 (10-69) zlcrnMn-nl arm

1. A store counter partition for dividing a counter having a flat upperbase into a plurality of bins comprising: a longitudinal element whoselength is approximately the same as one dimension of the flat base beingdivided into a plurality of bins; a flat lateral portion at one end ofthe longitudinal element adjacent the lower edge of the longitudinalelement; an upstanding rib above the flat lateral portion; a pair oftabs affixed to the flat lateral portion projecting inwardly in thedirection of the major portion of the longitudinal element; a resilientremovable clip of a generally inverted U-shape comprising: a pair oftines formed to fit over the upstanding rib forming one leg of theinverted U; a recess at the other end of the inverted U to engage theedge of the flat base; and means at the ends of the tines for lockingthe clip in position on the end of the longitudinal elEment.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the means for locking the clip in positioncomprises a bent portion at the end of each of the tines and a notch inthe longitudinal element to receive the bent portions.
 3. The inventionof claim 1 including a slotted member affixed to the clip above therecess to receive a flat vertical member and hold the same in positionwith respect to the longitudinal element and the flat base.
 4. Theinvention of claim 3 wherein the slotted member is open at its top andtwo of its sides.
 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the slotted memberis open at its top and one of its sides.
 6. A clip for removablyengaging the end of a longitudinal partition element and a flat base todivide the flat base into a plurality of bins comprising: a generallyU-shaped element of resilient material; a pair of tines forming one legof the U; a recess at the other end of the U for engaging the edge ofthe flat base; and means at the ends of tines for locking the clip inposition on the longitudinal partition.
 7. The invention of claim 6including a slotted member affixed to the clip above the recess forengaging the edge of the flat base.
 8. The invention of claim 7 whereinthe slotted member is open at the top end and two of its sides.
 9. Theinvention of claim 7 wherein the slotted member is open at its top andone of its sides.